fashion low down

Fall is all about fur and one of the other fall trends is lace. Of course Valentino released countless lace items, from shoes to clothing to bags. Seeing as how Valentino has perfected the art of feminine designs, it is only fitting for Valentino to tackle lace. As far as this bag goes however, it just isn’t quite cutting it for me.

The Valentino Day Lace Medium Duffle features a familiar shape (Louis Vuitton Speedy anyone?) with a black floral vine lace over.

I have absolutely no doubt that this Valentino bag, like all others, is of premium quality. But I always always find lace over leather to look a bit cheap. Like vinyl. I know part of that is personal preference and part comes from seeing many designers do this in vinyl, it just never strikes a chord with me. The tubular leather top handles have a 5″ drop, so the bag will be hand-held. Dimensions are 10 1/2″H x 12 1/2″W x 7″D. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $935.

Are you feeling this lace trend on handbags?

British fashion magazine Grazia wrote about a survey where men were asked which fashion trends they associate with “promiscuous women.” The top results:

• “Body-con” dresses (a la the bandage dress, at right on LiLo): 57 percent
• Cropped tops: 53 percent
• Corset-style tops: 51 percent
• Lace: 45 percent
• “Underwear as outerwear”: 43 percent

Coming in dead last were “hipster jeans,” with just 19 percent.

I have to say… the one I find the most confusing on this list is “Lace.” All lace? Stuff made out of see-through lace, or your grandma’s antique dress with lace trim? Lacy underwear? Lace leggings? I am going to need something more specific to work with here, British dudes. Then again, you probably think I’m a slut anyway, so whatevs. Somebody get Man Repeller on the case.

Post from: TheGloss

I remember a time when everyone wanted a little Prada backpack. I was in my senior year of high school, and girls in my affluent suburb were just starting to figure out the concept of accessories as status symbols. It was the early 2000s, so we couldn’t have picked a better time to start lusting after logo bags. I was the first of my friends to embrace the trend (how fitting) with a Prada Nylon Messenger Bag, which I received as a graduation present from my cousin Deb.

I’m no longer in high school, so it’s impossible to say if the seniors of 2010 want the same types of things that my class did, but Prada still continues to make the nylon bags that they’ve produced since 1985. The company is mum on how well they bags are selling compared to the style’s heyday, but we wanted to do a little survey of our own:

From left: Prada Nylon Pocket Tote, $550 via Saks; Prada Vela Backpack, $710 via Saks; Prada Vela Messenger Bag, $550 via Saks.

Theft rates are up on the Upper East Side as criminals search for a more stylish look. – The New York Observer

Thin eyebrows are out, thick ones are in. Give your tweezers a rest. – Essence

Check out Cesare Paciotti’s lacy pumps. Would you buy these? – Racked

A Russian Spy uses her UGGs to smuggle weapons. – Refinery 29

Animals are starting to catch on to the tattoo trend. – Trendhunter

In promoting “Material Girl,” Lourdes teaches us a new word: Fabnosity. – The Huffington Post

Post from: TheGloss

I know what you’re thinking: carrots are yummy, but not to be worn. When I first heard of carrot pants, I thought the same thing, and then I got hungry.

Carrot pants are loose fitting on top and tapered at the bottom. They are similar to harem pants, but not quite as baggy. You’ve probably seen them, but had no idea what to call them. Glad we could clear things up for you.

Do you wear carrot pants? Maybe your prefer a more traditional boot cut? Tell us about your favorite pants.

Post from: TheGloss

If you’ll think back with me to the mid-2000s, to a time when Chloé was releasing Paddingtons with giant bedazzled locks and people were snapping them up left and right, it might seem odd that Chloé Fall 2010 is so…minimalist. Spare, even. But in the past five years, as economic and social conditions have changed across the globe, so have tastes. Many critics are hailing this collection and those like it as the antidote to “It Bag” fatigue.

But if these bags become widely popular, are they not still It Bags, just repackaged to fit current trends? That’s probably a question that fashion marketing pros hope you won’t ask, but either way, a return to classic shapes and colors will likely be welcomed by many. Me? I’m a little bored. We have bigger photos after the jump – let us know what you think.

Chloé Aurore Bucket Bag – $1695 via Saks.

Chloé Aurore Top Handle – $1995 via Saks.

Chloé Amy Crossbody – $995 via Saks.

Silly Bandz are everywhere. Literally, they’re everywhere. On the street, in the subway, on the floor, in the bathroom, on young kids, moms, dads, boyfriends, girlfriends and I’ve even seen a Silly Band on a dog’s paw. They’re taking over the world with their neon colors and whimsical shapes. That got me thinking about the trends I wore when I was a kid. And then I surveyed the others in the office and we reminiscied on the trends we took part in. These were our favorite to look back on. What are yours?

Post from: TheGloss

If you think that drawstring bags are too trendy and youth-focused to be relevant to your day-to-day style, the Donna Karan Metro Bags is here to prove you wrong. It’s current and stylish without being too obviously trend-driven, which is the perfect combination for an everyday bag.

I used to be totally opposed to bags with two carrying options, but I’ve since become a converted believer. This design uses them really well, and the sleek, modern hardware provides a beautiful touch of detail to both the shoulder strap and the short handle. The gunmetal grey is my personal favorite, but the bag looks pretty nice in black as well. Buy through Nordstrom for $1495.

When we talked about the Louis Vuitton and Lanvin striped mother of pearl clutches last week, I still partly believed that the similarities of the two evening bags were a coincidence – after all, two bags does not a trend make. Three bags do, however, and that’s exactly what this Judith Leiber Resort 2011 is: a sign of a burgeoning trend.

The method of inlaying more closely resembles the Louis Vuitton, as does the diagonal inlay, while the color choice is more similar to the Lanvin. The major difference is that the bag is framed with gold, which unfortunately gives me flashbacks to the 80s – as a result, this clutch is my least favorite of the three.

This design doesn’t work as well as either of the previous clutches – it’s all Dynasty without much of the winking charm of a retro update, mostly because there’s little “update” to be found. Leiber is usually a master of the evening bag, but you’d be better suited to go with either the Louis Vuitton or Lanvin versions of this trend.

Price and release information are not yet available. Pictures via Women’s Wear Daily.

Shop Judith Leiber via Net-a-Porter!

I know that many of our readers are categorically opposed to fur, but the material is so trendy for fall that we wouldn’t be doing our jobs correctly if we ignored it. Most stores only have early pre-orders available for their cold-weather collections, and already fur bags from major designers are starting to show up here and there.

Of the options I’ve seen so far, the Tod’s D-Styling Bauletto Medio Bag is easily my favorite. Instead of taking on the bushy, overly plush look that befalls so many fur designs, the laser-cut fox has a finish that’s both luxurious and visually interesting. This bag is one of very few that I’ve seen where the use of the fur actually adds something to the bag’s aesthetic.

Depending on your feelings on fur, this bag is either a smart take on a big trend or an overpriced, dubiously ethical fluff ball. Principally, however, my job is to decide whether I think it’s a nice looking bag, and I think that it is. I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be just as nice looking in faux fur, though. Buy through Saks for $1995.